Board approves hospital assessment resolution to unlock Medicaid matching funds for local hospitals

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 27 to approve a resolution enabling special assessments on three hospital properties so those facilities can access state‑drawn federal Medicaid matching funds.

Rob Bradley, an attorney representing Ascension (Saint Vincent’s Clay Hospital) and HCA (Orange Park Medical Center), told the board the mechanism allows hospitals to assess their own properties (three facilities in Clay County) to create a local funding source that the state will match with federal Medicaid dollars. Bradley said that Medicaid reimbursement typically covers roughly 60% of the cost of care for these patients and that the assessment program helps ‘fill in the gap’ so hospitals can continue to serve underserved patients.

Bradley and staff said the assessment bills are assessed only to the hospital properties themselves, not to all county taxpayers. Colleen Ernst, also representing the hospitals, explained the county’s special‑assessment authority is required for the mechanism to proceed. The board then opened and closed a public hearing with no public speakers and approved the resolution and a related letter of agreement authorizing the county to execute the program. Staff said this will be revisited annually; with an additional hospital joining next year, total assessments could rise toward $7.9 million depending on invoicing and program scope.

Commissioners asked about mechanics and the annual reporting process; staff said invoices had already been provided to the county and payments would be transacted before the program deadlines.

The board’s action authorizes the county to adopt the resolution and enter the agreement needed for the hospitals to receive the matching Medicaid funds.